Eyvind Earle and the Precision of Design

Tyrus Wong and the Magic of Atmosphere

Bioshock Infinite, Irrational Games and Powerful Storytelling

A few years back a good friend and a fellow professor showed me the opening sequence of a video game called "Bioshock." He knew I didn't play games, but he also knew that I love storytelling in any form if it is quality. For the next several minutes I was taken through the opening ten minutes or so of a beautiful sequence that immersed me in an experience that was truly an act of "participation mystique."

It was immediately apparent to me and in interviews that these artists were connoisseurs of great storytelling, and both knew the genre and were pushing it's boundaries. The game creates a bold storytelling experience by referencing classic moments from Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining,"...

...as well as using visual imagery from genius Fritz Lang's "Metropolis."

The auteurs behind this experience are currently developing a follow-up to the game called "Bioshock Infinite".

Let no one doubt that these artists are storytellers with aspirations in the tradition of those artists I've mentioned above, and that they are truly aspiring to "tell forward."

"Mythophoric Character Design" at Wellesley College

I would like to take the opportunity to thank Wellesley College for inviting me this past week to give my lecture on "Mythophoric Character Design." It was a genuine pleasure to spend the afternoon with all of you and my family and I had a lot of fun walking the paths of your beautiful campus. For more on the visit as well as more photos of the event, be sure to follow this link to The Jewett Art Gallery

A special thanks to my RISD colleague and former classmate Clara Lieu. It is always a pleasure, my friend.

No Words Needed

One of the more amusing aspects of being a teacher, in an institution where almost no subject is taboo, is that students ask me just about anything that pops into their heads. I am constantly having to think on my feet, and I really feel a responsibility to give them honest answers that also include answering, "I don't know."

This post is an answer to one of my favorite questions regarding storytelling: "What is your favorite movie scene of all time?"

Here is a clip from Spirited Away by Sensei Hayao Miyazaki, who is one of the finest, if not the finest, storytellers alive today. Ignore the dialogue and drink in the music, sound effects and scenery. The shot of the little house with the orange roof happens to also be my favorite shot of all time.

"21-87" and "Look at Life"

From the National Film Board of Canada: "This short film from Arthur Lipsett is an abstract succession of unrelated views of the passing crowd. A commentary on a machine-dominated society, it is often cited as an influence on George Lucas's Star Wars and his conceptualization of "The Force."

As we explore the possibilities of storytelling, it is important to look backward and also explore the influences on contemporary storytellers. One of George Lucas' biggest influences before and during his time as a film student was Arthur Lipsett's "21-87" as seen in his first student film "Look at Life."

Kevin Mowrer: The Man Behind Meta-story

Kevin Mowrer has started a new web log as a part of his effort to move the storytelling conversation forward. Having recently had Kevin speak to a class of my students at RISD, and having worked with him on a variety of projects, I can't tell you how thrilled I am that he has started a web log of his own to share his powerful vision for the future of storytelling in entertainment media.

I encourage everyone who is currently following my web log to sign up to follow his by clicking HERE. I can assure you that you won't regret it.